CROATIAN DIPLOMACY DAY MARKED ON JUNE 7

ZAGREB, June 7 (Hina) - The Croatian Diplomacy day is being marked in Zagreb today under the auspices of Croatia's President Franjo Tudjman. Tudjman received members of the college of the department heads of the Foreign Ministry, led by Minister Mate Granic, on Monday morning, and Granic is expected to address top officials, the state administration's workers and other public figures gathered at the Foreign Ministry today. The Deputy Foreign Minister, Ivo Sanader, will present a new edition of papers and studies of the Ministry's Diplomatic Academy entitled "Experiences of the Modern Croatian Diplomacy", said the Croatian Foreign Ministry in a statement. According to available historical documents, on 7 June, 1120 years ago, Croatia was internationally recognised for the first time. On this day in 879 Pope John VIII forwarded a letter to Branimir, the leader of Croatia, the Croatian Bishop Teodozije and Croatia's priests and Croats, in which he promised to protect Croatia's political strategy. This letter of the Pontiff was the response to Knez (Duke) Branimir's request. The Holy Father also expressed satisfaction with Croatia's having returned to the fold of the Roman Catholic Church and blessed Duke Branimir, the Croatian people and the Croatian state. According to the international law at that time and the concept of the Pope's universal rule and his right to recognise legal rulers and leaders, this act meant the recognition of Branimir as the legal ruler and Croatia as an independent state. (hina) ms